tame. Those bred at St. Kilda and Haskeir rocks betake themselves in autumn to the western side of the

North Uist, Benbecula, and South Uist, and are easily approached. I have shot very

islands of Harris, : :
of the immature plumage, sprinkled in brown spots

interesting specimens there, showing the last remains

over the back of the birds and the wing-coverts, giving them a marbled appearance, the rest of the plumage

being complete.”

“The flight of this Gull,” writes Macgillivray, in his
direct, and unwavering when the bird is proceeding tow
asions somewhat devious, although from its size this species is not capable of turning and
d with a shoal of fry, the Herring-Gulls hover

‘History of British Birds,’ “ is strong, but buoyant,
ards a distant place, and then usually elevated, but

on ordinary occ
winding so dexterously as the smaller kinds. When engage
over the water, now ascending to the height of perhaps twenty feet, then skimming close over the surface ;
and on observing an object, stretching upward and vibrating their wings and letting down their feet so as to
touch and sometimes pat the water, they pick it up without alighting. Sometimes they plunge partly into
the water, and occasionally pick up their prey while swimming. All this while they emit now and then a
loud and rather shrill cry. Their food consists of fishes of small size, occasionally large dead fish, crabs,
echini, asterize, and mollusca. In winter and spring they often travel in bands over the fields, searching the
pastures and, more especially, ploughed land for worms, grubs, and insects.

« At that season they may sometimes be seen on lakes, either solitary or in small flocks. They walk and
even run with ease, and not ungracefully. Often, on the sands, they may be seen rapidly patting the surface
with their feet; but the purpose of this action is not understood, although some have supposed it to be the
causing of worms to emerge.

“In the beginning of May they resort to their various breeding-places along the coast, often in great
numbers, betaking themselves to small unfrequented islands, frequently also to the faces of abrupt cliffs, but
sometimes settling here and there in pairs. The nest, which is often bulky, is formed of grass and herbaceous
plants of various species, according to the locality. The eggs, which are generally three, vary greatly in
size and colour, the smallest being two inches and a half in length, and the largest two inches and ten
twelfths, their breadth from one inch and eight twelfths to two twelfths more ; the ground-colour pale yellowish
grey, brownish grey, light brown, or olivaceous, sometimes dotted with dark brown and purplish grey, some-
times clouded in large patches, and sometimes dotted, spotted, and clouded or even covered with tortuous
and angular markings.”

‘¢In Shetland,” as Dr. Edmonston informs me, ‘the Herring-Gull breeds almost always in cliffs of difficult
access, hardly ever in flat situations.” Now, as in the Outer Hebrides it very often breeds on islands as
flat as they can be in a gneiss country, and very seldom in cliffs, the difference in habits must depend upon
circumstances, perhaps not easily appreciable. On an island in the Bay of Fundy, Mr. Audubon found it
nesting on fir trees, and was informed that, some time before, it had bred on the flat ground in the
neighbourhood. “It is,” Dr. Edmonston continues, ‘‘ the most elegant and most sagacious of all our birds.
Of all birds this is the most indefatigable persecutor of the sportsman. At all seasons it is the watchful
is often fatal to itself, by
exciting the vindictive feelings of man. Its carriage is stately and dignified. The young are generally three

guardian of wild animals. This habit, however, so generous and interesting,
in number; and long after they have left the nest the parents continue to watch and feed them. Altogether
it is a most interesting and delightful bird. Those who have made the name of Gull synonymous with
stupidity have known little of the Herring-Gull, or they have meant the contrary to what they have said. In
spring it is found in flocks on the corn-fields, picking up whatever seed the harrow may have left uncovered ;
and at this season it is excellent eating.”

Phe principal figure in the Plate is about two thirds of the natural size.